Combined light and structure



J. C. HOBBS.

COMBINED LIGHT AND STRUCTURE, APPLICATION FILED Nov, 15, 1920.

1,41 6,467., Patented May16,1922.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

swam Jo's Q QQAW J. C. HOBBS.

COMBINED LIGHT AND STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. 1920.

1,%16,467n Patented May 16, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. C. HOBBS.

COMBINED LIGHT AND STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1920.

1 AH 6,41%? Patented May 16, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

"B an 313 C. HOBBS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

V COMBINED LIGHT AND STRUCTURE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. JA ES C. Hones, a citizenof the United States. residing at Pittsburgh, Allegheny countyPennsylvania,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined LightvandStructure. of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. I

The present invention relates broadly to illumination, and moreparticularly -to a combined light and structure for automobileillumination.

The principal object of the present invention .is to provide a combinedstructure of I ing operator.

A further object of the invention is to illuminate the sides of avehicle by illuminating rays, none of the direct rays of which projectabove the horizontal plane of the source of light.

A still further object of the invention is v to render an automobilevisible at night to drivers of vehicles approaching from any angle ordirection.

An additional object of the present inven- "tion is to combine the lightand vehicle body in such manner that the source of li ht is always tothe rear of, at one side of? and below the eyes of the operator of thevehicle.

The foregoing and other objects, together with their attendantadvantages, will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood,by reference to the accompanying specification and drawings forming apart thereof. it being premised that changes may be made in the variousdetails and the manner of operation, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of. the invention.

Fi re 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle illlnated in accordance withthe present invention;

' Figure 2 is a rear view of the vehicle illustrated in Figure 1; I

Fires 3, 4 and t are detail views 'of the illmatingmeans em loyed;

Fre an a side e ovation er a portion v Specification of Ije ttersPatent.

Patented May 16, 11922,

. Application filed November 15, 1920. Serial no. 424,053.

of a vehicle equipped with a modified form of illuminating means;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of'the construction illustrated in Figure5; v

Figures 7 and 8 are views correspondin to Figures 5 and 6 andillustrating a modi ed form of illuminating means;

Figures 9 and 10 are views corresponding -to Figures 5 and 6 andillustrate a still further modificationg Figure 11 isa side elevation ofa vehicle body having an integral light receiving pocket; and

structure illustrated in Figure 11.

At the present time, in automobile illu- .mination, it is customary torely for safety at night on head-lights and tail-lights, suitabledifi'u'sing, absorbing or reflecting means being provided for thehead-lights. Where additional side lights are utilized. they arecustomarily positioned on the cowl of the vehicle in front of the driverin such manner that direct illuminating rays are pro- Figure 12 1s asectional view through thejected above a horizontal plane into the eyesof anapproaching driver. Such lights are frequently referred to as.blinders due to the high candle-power lamps used. On misty or foggynights such light rays are partially reflected back into the eyes of thedriver of the vehicle so equipped, thereby interfering with theoperation of the car and increasing the danger both to himself and toother drivers without producing any beneficial illumination either ofhis own car or of the roadway.

Other side lights have also been employed to some extent, but in suchcases they have projected direct rays above the horizontal planeoccupied by ave not produced efiective side illumination of the vehicleso equip.

By the present invention, a light of suitable character is combined withthe vehicle body in such manner that the limits of the vehicle body aredefinitely defined the running board thereof is illuminated or mfety. inentering or alighting from the vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle isenabled to see side obstructions without being subiecfid to any blindingor M- 3":

!'Z eferring more particularly to the wings, there is illust in Figure 1a motor vehicle, the body 2 of whic is provided with the usual driversseat. S cured to each side of the body 2 to therear of the drivers seatand below the eyes of the driver, is an illuminating means 3. Asillustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each of these illuminating means maycomprise a suitable metallic or other non-transparent casing 4 adaptedto partially enclose the souree of light and support a lower lighttransmitting member 5. With this form of the invention, the member 5 maycomprise a suitably shaped glass having a frosted )ortion 6 and a clearportion 7 The ends of the casing t ma be closed by light modifyingmember's suc as a red lens 8 for the rear of the casing and a frostedlens 9 for the front thereof. ln Figure 4" the casing 4 is shown asprovided with a head 10 and one of the lenses is shown as provided witha head 11, which beads are, held in position by a ring or ferrule l2,ofany desired construction. -With a combined light and structure of thetype illustrated in these figures, it will be apparent that directilluminating rays 13 are directed against the sides of the vehicle andon the roadway as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2, with none of thedirect illuminating rays projecting above a plane indicated by the lines14:. To the rear of the vehicle will be projected subdued red raysthrough the zone A, while to the front of the vehicle will be pro--jected subdued rays by the frosted lens 2) throu h the zone 13. Toeither side of the vehicfla will be projected subdued rays in the zonesC throu h the frost-ed portion 6 of the late 5. lt will be apparent thatso far as il uminating value is concerned, the rays in the zones A, Band may be entirely disregarded, as these rays do not interfere eitherwith the operator of the vehicle equi pcd as described, or with theoperator of appreaching vehicles,

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6,the car body 2 is illustrated as havin a light source 15 secured theretoand one osed by a circular transparent cup-shaped casing 16. This casingmay be formed with a peripheral bead 17 a apted to be engaged by afastenin ring 18, which is in turn secured to the ve iele body. Withsuch a construction, a part'of the upper portion of the casing may erendered opaque by a silvering or enameling coating 19. Directly belowSuch 0 aque ortion, the casing may have a froste ban 20 .to subdue lightrays projecting horizontally from the source of light and prevent adirect view of such light source from any point within the horizontalplane containing the same. The remainder of the casing may be clearglass, as indicated in the drawings.

In Fi ures 7 and 8 is illustrated a slightly modified form of theinvention comprising amas? an angular casing having its upper portion21silvered,its intermediate portion 22 frosted and its lower portion 23of clear glass. The rear end 24'of the casing may be suit ably coated toproduce a rod area, while the corresponding front portion 25 may befrosted for the purposes before described. Instead of securing thecasing in position by a peripherally extending head as disclosed inFigures 5 and 6, the casing may be provided with upper and lower lugs orprojections 26 ada ted to be suitably engaged by fastening devices forattaching the same to the vehicle body.

In Figures 9 and 10 the vehicle body 2 is illustrated as provided with asectional casing comprising an upper opaque portion 27 and a lowertransparent portion 28, the ends being formed by red and frostedclosures, as before described.

In this construction, however, one side of the opaque section 27 isprovided with a Ion-- gitudinally extending opening 29 adapted toco-operate with a frosted portion 30 of the transparent section 28.

In Figures 11 and 12 the vehicle body 2 is illustrated as having apocket formed in the side thereof by pressing outwardly a portion 31thereof to serve as a shield for a source. of light 352 mounted withinthe pocket. 'This source of light may be con strucled in accordance withany of the forms of the invention herein illustrated, to provide afrosted area. 33 and a clear glass area 34.

Vith all of the forms of the invention illustrated, it will be apparentthat no direct illuminating rays are projected above the horizontalplane containing the source of light. a direct view of the source oflight from any point situated in. the. horizontal plane containing thesame is prevented. These fea tures are highly advantageous, as blindingrays are prevented. thereby enabling the invcntion to be utilized withsafety.

in each instance the casing enclosing the light source is so constructedthat its greatest vertical dimension is in a plane substantiallyintermediate the ends thereof, the vertical dimension decreasing fromsuch plane toward either end. By reason of this construction, asubstantially curved lower transparent closure is provided which iseffective for directing light rays downwardly against the sides andrunning board, as well as forwardly and rearwardly to a sufficientextent to illuminate the'fendel's and define the outlines of thecar.

Due to the positioning of thesource of light in the manner described, tothe rear of the drivers seat and below the plane of his eyes, .it willbe apparent that there is roduced a bi hly desirable illumination 0 thevehicle itse lf and of the roadway at either The construction is alsosuch that Ill) side thereof without interfering with the driver of thevehicle or the drivers of ap proaching vehicles.

v and it is rendered visible to cars approaching at right anglesthereto, as well as to cars approaching from the front or rear.

I claim:

1. In an illuminating meansfor vehicles, a casing comprising atransparent closure at the under portion thereof adapted to permit thepassage of light rays substantially vertically downwardly therefrom, anopaque closure at the upper portion thereof, and a translucent closureextending from said transparent closure to said opaque closure wherebythe passage of direct illuminating rays of high intensity above thehorizontal plane occupied by sa1d casing is prevented, substantially asdescribed. a U 2. An illuminating means for vehicles, comprising a.casing having its greatest ver tical dimension at a point intermediatethe ends thereof, and having the vertical dimension decreasing from saidpoint toward either end, said casing comprising an opaque portion,-atransparent portion for directing light rays downwardly, forwardly andrearwardly thereof only, and a frosted portion cooperating therewith,substantially as described. I

3. A combined light and structure, com: prising a vehicle body, a sourceof light secured thereto and projecting high intensity rays against aportion of the body below, to the front of and to the rear of saidlight, and means for preventing the passage of high intensit rays abovethe horizontal plane occupie by said light, said means also permittingthe projection of low intensity rays forwardly and rearwardly of thelight, substantiall as described.

4. A com ine light and structure, comprising a vehicle body, a driversseat therein, a source of light secured to one side of said body,-saidlight being secured to the rear of said'seat and below the eyes of adriver in said seat, and means cooperating with saidsource'of light toprevent at all times a direct view thereof from an point above thehori-hontal plane occupied t ereby,

said light source... directing high intensity rays to the oad surface adacent the vehicle and intermediate the ends thereof, and low intensityrays substantially horizontally thereof for indicating the position ofthe light, substantially as described. 1 v

5. A combined light and tructure, comrising a vehicle body, a driversseattherem, a light secured to one side of said body, said lig ,t beingsecured to the rear of said seat and means cooperating with said l'i htto obstruct the passage of high intensity il uminating rays above thehorizontal glane occupied by said light, said light irecting seat, andmeans cooperating with said light to obstruct the passage of highintensity illuminating rays above the horizontal plane occupied by saidlight, said light directing high intensity rays to the road surface adjacent the vehicle. and intermediate the ends thereof and low intensityrays substantially horizontally thereof for indicating the position ofthe light, substantially as described.

7. A combined light and structure, comprising a vehicle body, a driversseat therein, alight secured to one side of said body to the rear ofsaid seat and below the eyes of a driver in said seat, and means opaqueto the passage of light rays cooperating with the upper portion of saidlight to prevent the passage of high intensity rays above the horizontalplane occupied by said light, said light being. effective forilluminating by high intensity rays a lower the vehicle intermediate theends thereof, and for indicating the position of the light by lowintensit rays projected substantially horizontally tii scribed.

8. A combined light and structure, comprising a vehicle body, a driversseat therein, a light secured to one side of said body to the rear ofsaid seatand below the eyes of passage of high intensity rays above thehorizontal plane occupied by said light, said light being effective forilluminating a lower portion of the side of the vehicle intermediate.the ends thereof by high intensity rays directed downwardly, rearwardlyand forwardly ofthe light, and for indicating the position'of the lightby lowintensity rays projected substantially horizontally thereof,substantially as described.

9. A combined light and structure, com

prising a vehicle body, and illuminating means secured to. the sidethereof for directing high intensity illuminating rays forwardly,rearwardly and downwardly against the side of said vehicle forilluminatinga considerable portion thereof and low inten-' sity rayssubstantially 'horizon'tall thereof for indicating the position of theight, and means for. reventmg the passage of high intensity il uminatingrays above the horiportion of the side of ereof, substantially as dejzontal plane occu ied' by said illuminating means, substantial y asdescribed.

10. An illuminating means for vehicles, comprising a casing havin anopaque upper portion, a transparentum er portion for (llrecting lightrays downwardly, forwardly and rearwardly thereof only, and atranslucent portion intermediate said opaque and transparent portionspermitting the passage of low intensity rays, substantially asdescribed.

11. An illuminating means for use on the outsideo't vehicles, comprisinga light source projecting high intensity rays directly against a portionof the outside of the body of the velnele to illuminate the" same andlow intensity rays to indicate the position of the light source, andmeans for preventing the projection of any high intensity rays above thehorizontal plane ocenpied by the light source, substantially asdescribed.

12. An illuminating means for vehicles,

'comprising a light source projecting high J. C. HOBBS.

